[Ghost01Participant]

 I really disliked what the Thunder did with their two picks the other night.

I really don’t get what Sam Presti is doing, maybe he just thinks none of these guys can help the team but with their lack of depth, and lack of multi-dimensional players, I just don’t get the logic behind his picks.

He picked ANOTHER big man that is high energy and low skill. Not only was McGary picked way too high, but he is going to bring so little to the table that the likes of Adams, Collison, and Perkins can’t provide. He’s another guy who can’t space the floor, he doesn’t have a polished post game, he is just another rebounder/energy guy.

Then they picked another perimeter player who can’t shoot in Huestis. This was another guy obviously picked too high, and he really does nothing that Thabo Seflosha (who’s on his way out of the league) can’t do.

The opportunity I saw for the Thunder was to pick Rodney Hood and Cleanthony Early.

To me, bringing in 2 perimeter guys, both of which are two way players, and both of which who can actually shoot, would have been perfect. They need to add solid bench players who can space the floor and contribute. They need more skilled players so the offensive burden isn’t so dependent on Westbrook and KD. I know that Lamb is a similar player, but he’s been really bad for 2 years and wasn’t even in the playoff rotation. And I actually thought both Hood and Early were better this past season than Lamb was his last year at UConn. Adding more athletic perimeter players who can play multiple positions and do multiple things just seems a lot more logical than 2 more one dimensional guys who can’t knockdown wide open shots. 

[HuskiesParticipant]

 100% true.  They did not help themselves at all with this draft.  I thought pj Hairston would be perfect at 21.  Napier, early, or Kyle Anderson would make more sense as well.  I think huestis would have gone undrafted!

[HuskiesParticipant]

 100% true.  They did not help themselves at all with this draft.  I thought pj Hairston would be perfect at 21.  Napier, early, or Kyle Anderson would make more sense as well.  I think huestis would have gone undrafted!

[HuskiesParticipant]

 100% true.  They did not help themselves at all with this draft.  I thought pj Hairston would be perfect at 21.  Napier, early, or Kyle Anderson would make more sense as well.  I think huestis would have gone undrafted!

[HuskiesParticipant]

 100% true.  They did not help themselves at all with this draft.  I thought pj Hairston would be perfect at 21.  Napier, early, or Kyle Anderson would make more sense as well.  I think huestis would have gone undrafted!

[BallinmvpParticipant]

I agree, Presti and Brooks always go for players who have low ceilings and have a specific role. They seem content with playing 2 on 5 offensively and it really is going to come back to bite them. 

[BallinmvpParticipant]

I agree, Presti and Brooks always go for players who have low ceilings and have a specific role. They seem content with playing 2 on 5 offensively and it really is going to come back to bite them. 

[CavFanPRParticipant]

They need a third option in their starting lineup!!! They need to get rid of Perkins, he clogs the lane and is not a good fit next to Ibaka! OKC should go after Spencer Hawes once they amnesty Perk. No doubt McGary has talent but OKC has to get some veteran help if they want to contend for a title, I don’t think adding more young players will help them.

[CavFanPRParticipant]

They need a third option in their starting lineup!!! They need to get rid of Perkins, he clogs the lane and is not a good fit next to Ibaka! OKC should go after Spencer Hawes once they amnesty Perk. No doubt McGary has talent but OKC has to get some veteran help if they want to contend for a title, I don’t think adding more young players will help them.

[nill650Participant]

With who was available at 29 I admit I was very surprised they valued huestis this high,he could have easily been had at a later pick but it would have been one they didnt have.

 I did’nt love the heustis pick but he replaces sefalosha defensively,yet offers little help offensively,which is the same thing they lacked from sefalosha in the post season that they needed.

as far as mcgary goes, if his back checks out, which I think it did or okc would not have picked him that high, he is more than just another psyco-t. mcgary imo has plenty of skill to fill it up and will compliment a rim protector like ibaka. He also offers alot of versatility going forward with perkins sure to be gone along with collison after next season.

I see that got semaj christon as well at 55 via charlotte. this adds depth.

they did well overall. but that 29th left cleanthony ,mcdaniels,and gr3 on the bd. not sure about that.

 

 

 

[nill650Participant]

With who was available at 29 I admit I was very surprised they valued huestis this high,he could have easily been had at a later pick but it would have been one they didnt have.

 I did’nt love the heustis pick but he replaces sefalosha defensively,yet offers little help offensively,which is the same thing they lacked from sefalosha in the post season that they needed.

as far as mcgary goes, if his back checks out, which I think it did or okc would not have picked him that high, he is more than just another psyco-t. mcgary imo has plenty of skill to fill it up and will compliment a rim protector like ibaka. He also offers alot of versatility going forward with perkins sure to be gone along with collison after next season.

I see that got semaj christon as well at 55 via charlotte. this adds depth.

they did well overall. but that 29th left cleanthony ,mcdaniels,and gr3 on the bd. not sure about that.

 

 

 

[kobyzParticipant]

 100% wrong! Thunder had very efficient draft, maybe not fleshy but very efficient… they picked two players in the first round who might not be high profiled prospect but they very underrated!! McGary could come right away and be upgrade at the C position over Perkins, McGary remind a better Tiago Splitter, like Splitter he is phisical big with good mobility and fundamentals, unlike Splitter he though as nails and has better jumper and touch… About Huestis, i said before the draft that i don’t understand why he is being slept on and that he is worth a first round pick… To me he is the best defensive perimeter player in the draft, maybe best defender overall, there also no better team player in the draft, great intangibles, very hard worker and he will be able to hit open threes consistently, also fantastic character, could be the next Shane Battier or Thyshaun Prince, will be improvement over Seflosha… Great draft for the Thunder, Thunder with Inserting McGary and Huestis to the lineup gonna be a better team right away, more solid offensively with crazy defense that alone can win them games…

[kobyzParticipant]

 100% wrong! Thunder had very efficient draft, maybe not fleshy but very efficient… they picked two players in the first round who might not be high profiled prospect but they very underrated!! McGary could come right away and be upgrade at the C position over Perkins, McGary remind a better Tiago Splitter, like Splitter he is phisical big with good mobility and fundamentals, unlike Splitter he though as nails and has better jumper and touch… About Huestis, i said before the draft that i don’t understand why he is being slept on and that he is worth a first round pick… To me he is the best defensive perimeter player in the draft, maybe best defender overall, there also no better team player in the draft, great intangibles, very hard worker and he will be able to hit open threes consistently, also fantastic character, could be the next Shane Battier or Thyshaun Prince, will be improvement over Seflosha… Great draft for the Thunder, Thunder with Inserting McGary and Huestis to the lineup gonna be a better team right away, more solid offensively with crazy defense that alone can win them games…

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

My favorite guys in that stretch of the draft were Napier, Early, and Kyle Anderson, with Jarnell Stokes being my favorite "early second round guy".

Napier could have given OKC a guy who can really, really SHOOT, another ball handler, and another scorer.  He and Russell could have played well together with Reggie being another good guard.  I like Napier’s leadership and intangibles.  To me, he is a little Steph Curry.

Early could have given the Thunder a polished small forward and potential 3 and D guy.  A good backup for Durant, as well as a guy they can use in smaller lineups with Durant at the other forward spot.  Early is a good athlete and finisher, and can make some jumpers. 

With those two picks you could have lineups of Napier, Westbrook, Early, Durant, and Serge (small ball) with Reggie Jackson and Steven Adams also as young rotation guys. 

I actually like McGary but more at 29.  Why did they take him at 21?????  I get it, third big man behind Serge and Adams.  Can board, pass, hustle, all that…  Not sure that that was what they needed at 21…  Maybe them being without Serge Ibaka a couple of games in the WCF changed their thinking.  He would be a value pick at 29, not as much at 21 — especially in THIS draft.

I get Josh Huestis too, but why not go out and buy a second round pick for him?  Ok, he brings defense which is really nice.  And I guess he is a small forward so he can be Durant’s backup.  BUT, a part of me says that the Thunder are really, really, really worried about Kawhi Leonard (which they should be).  So do you get a Kawhi Stopper at 29?  … I like this pick a bit better if Josh and Durant can play some small ball at the forward spots and if Josh can consistently knock down jumpers (and rebound).  … I just think that Cleanthony Early, Glenn Robinson III, and some other guys might have had more value at 29.  Kyle Anderson would have given them that crafty, passing James Harden type game, while also being a guy who can matchup with Boris Diaw.  Slo Mo could have been a fourth/fifth option on offense as well as one of their primary passers/ball handlers/creators. 

Ha. Kyle Anderson might have been a better pick for the Thunder, and Josh Huestis could have been a better pick for the Spurs.  Josh would have given the Spurs another defender to throw at Durant and LeBron, and a possible New Era Bruce Bowen.  You could see Josh backing up Kawhi.  You could also see some small ball front lines of Josh, Kawhi, and Boris Diaw.

Hmm, maybe that is why the Thunder drafted Josh Huestis.  So the Spurs wouldn’t get him.

I don’t think the Thunder got great value in this draft.  They didn’t fill any needs.  They didn’t get the best guys on the board either…

The Spurs got Kyle Anderson.  The Heat got Shabazz Napier.  I think those two teams had better drafts.  Each guy would have been good on the Thunder, too.  I also like the Grizzlies getting Jordan Adams (ok) and Jarnell Stokes (good value at 35).  I think those two though would have been even better for the Thunder.  Jordan Adams as a sixth man 2 guard for the Thunder and Jarnell Stokes is more of an inside scorer than McGary and probably an even better rebounder.  Stokes might have a higher vertical too.  Then he is a guy who can defend a throwback power forward like Zach Randolph…

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

My favorite guys in that stretch of the draft were Napier, Early, and Kyle Anderson, with Jarnell Stokes being my favorite "early second round guy".

Napier could have given OKC a guy who can really, really SHOOT, another ball handler, and another scorer.  He and Russell could have played well together with Reggie being another good guard.  I like Napier’s leadership and intangibles.  To me, he is a little Steph Curry.

Early could have given the Thunder a polished small forward and potential 3 and D guy.  A good backup for Durant, as well as a guy they can use in smaller lineups with Durant at the other forward spot.  Early is a good athlete and finisher, and can make some jumpers. 

With those two picks you could have lineups of Napier, Westbrook, Early, Durant, and Serge (small ball) with Reggie Jackson and Steven Adams also as young rotation guys. 

I actually like McGary but more at 29.  Why did they take him at 21?????  I get it, third big man behind Serge and Adams.  Can board, pass, hustle, all that…  Not sure that that was what they needed at 21…  Maybe them being without Serge Ibaka a couple of games in the WCF changed their thinking.  He would be a value pick at 29, not as much at 21 — especially in THIS draft.

I get Josh Huestis too, but why not go out and buy a second round pick for him?  Ok, he brings defense which is really nice.  And I guess he is a small forward so he can be Durant’s backup.  BUT, a part of me says that the Thunder are really, really, really worried about Kawhi Leonard (which they should be).  So do you get a Kawhi Stopper at 29?  … I like this pick a bit better if Josh and Durant can play some small ball at the forward spots and if Josh can consistently knock down jumpers (and rebound).  … I just think that Cleanthony Early, Glenn Robinson III, and some other guys might have had more value at 29.  Kyle Anderson would have given them that crafty, passing James Harden type game, while also being a guy who can matchup with Boris Diaw.  Slo Mo could have been a fourth/fifth option on offense as well as one of their primary passers/ball handlers/creators. 

Ha. Kyle Anderson might have been a better pick for the Thunder, and Josh Huestis could have been a better pick for the Spurs.  Josh would have given the Spurs another defender to throw at Durant and LeBron, and a possible New Era Bruce Bowen.  You could see Josh backing up Kawhi.  You could also see some small ball front lines of Josh, Kawhi, and Boris Diaw.

Hmm, maybe that is why the Thunder drafted Josh Huestis.  So the Spurs wouldn’t get him.

I don’t think the Thunder got great value in this draft.  They didn’t fill any needs.  They didn’t get the best guys on the board either…

The Spurs got Kyle Anderson.  The Heat got Shabazz Napier.  I think those two teams had better drafts.  Each guy would have been good on the Thunder, too.  I also like the Grizzlies getting Jordan Adams (ok) and Jarnell Stokes (good value at 35).  I think those two though would have been even better for the Thunder.  Jordan Adams as a sixth man 2 guard for the Thunder and Jarnell Stokes is more of an inside scorer than McGary and probably an even better rebounder.  Stokes might have a higher vertical too.  Then he is a guy who can defend a throwback power forward like Zach Randolph…

 

[burgessfourParticipant]

 a huge problem with their draft but the OP is right, Hood and Anthony would have been my picks.

[burgessfourParticipant]

 a huge problem with their draft but the OP is right, Hood and Anthony would have been my picks.

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

 True they didn’t help themselves in the draft, but to say that the two players they selected will not help the team in any way is very shortsighted. Every NBA GM spends hours before they are on the clock in the NBA draft doing their homework on players. And they don’t just do their homework on a few players they do their on all the players that declared for the draft international or not. Josh Huestis is a good skilled player and was an important part to Stanford’s success this year. I think him and Dwight Powell (his teammate) were a big reason why Stanford was able to beat Syracuse in the tourney this year. Huestis may not make an impact this year but OKC is a team that is going to be competing for years to come and they are going to his help later on. Maybe not this year but his time will come. He was drafted for a reason. That reason may not come to pass this coming season but it will happen eventually, and that was the reason why the pick was made. 

And now I’ll talk about their earlier, Mitch McGary. I admit I was a little surprised with this pick too. Especially considering the OKC selected a very good center who helped OKC a lot in the playoffs. Steven Adams will probably be starting in place of Kendrick Perkins as soon as this coming season! So to see pick another big man was a little surprising. But again to say that he is a high energy guy with no skill is also very shortsighted. McGary was actually thought of to be a lottery pick last year (2013). And if he declared that year, he probably would have gone in the lottery. McGary was a very important player on Micigan that year. I’m sure that was in the mind of Sam Presti when he selected him. Unfortunately this year he got injured 8 games into the season and therefore his season was cut short. But that does not take away from the player that McGary. His early season injury does not mean that he is a high energy guy with no skill. Sure McGary should have gone later, but maybe not. A lot of teams with mid to late first round picks were looking at selecting him with their pick. As a matter of fact I heard that he had a promise by some team in the mid to late first round. 

Yeah, its true that both of these players probably shouldn’t have gone where they did, but I’m Sam Presti did all could picking up the phone and proposing trades to other teams to try and trade down or out of the first round and into the second to select them. Unfortunately no team bit, and Sam Presti was forced to make a decision with those picks. Pick the players that he planned to and be ridiculed by you and a lot of other fans or pick two other players that were slipping on draft night. But Sam Presti saw a necessary need later on. Yeah, it wasn’t you thought was their need, but I’m sure Presti thought of those needs too. But I think he knew those needs would be filled by players that were already on the team. Don’t forget Reggie Jackson is supposed to start this year in place of Thabo Sefolosha. He could provide that third scorer that OKC needs. And also they have Jeremy Lamb, he was a late lottery pick in 2012. A lot of people like him om this site and he is compared to Reggie Miller. I don’t agree with the comparison but that doesn’t mean I’m right. He hasn’t quite developed yet, but this coming season could be his year that he becomes the player off the bench that everyone will rave about.

Yeah its true that Presti did not feel the immediate that you and I picked up on in this draft, but that need will be filled this coming season by a player that is already on the team. Presti’s two picks was about the future, not this coming season. And somewhere down the road, Huestis and McGary will be an important part on the Thunder.

 

 

 

 

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

 True they didn’t help themselves in the draft, but to say that the two players they selected will not help the team in any way is very shortsighted. Every NBA GM spends hours before they are on the clock in the NBA draft doing their homework on players. And they don’t just do their homework on a few players they do their on all the players that declared for the draft international or not. Josh Huestis is a good skilled player and was an important part to Stanford’s success this year. I think him and Dwight Powell (his teammate) were a big reason why Stanford was able to beat Syracuse in the tourney this year. Huestis may not make an impact this year but OKC is a team that is going to be competing for years to come and they are going to his help later on. Maybe not this year but his time will come. He was drafted for a reason. That reason may not come to pass this coming season but it will happen eventually, and that was the reason why the pick was made. 

And now I’ll talk about their earlier, Mitch McGary. I admit I was a little surprised with this pick too. Especially considering the OKC selected a very good center who helped OKC a lot in the playoffs. Steven Adams will probably be starting in place of Kendrick Perkins as soon as this coming season! So to see pick another big man was a little surprising. But again to say that he is a high energy guy with no skill is also very shortsighted. McGary was actually thought of to be a lottery pick last year (2013). And if he declared that year, he probably would have gone in the lottery. McGary was a very important player on Micigan that year. I’m sure that was in the mind of Sam Presti when he selected him. Unfortunately this year he got injured 8 games into the season and therefore his season was cut short. But that does not take away from the player that McGary. His early season injury does not mean that he is a high energy guy with no skill. Sure McGary should have gone later, but maybe not. A lot of teams with mid to late first round picks were looking at selecting him with their pick. As a matter of fact I heard that he had a promise by some team in the mid to late first round. 

Yeah, its true that both of these players probably shouldn’t have gone where they did, but I’m Sam Presti did all could picking up the phone and proposing trades to other teams to try and trade down or out of the first round and into the second to select them. Unfortunately no team bit, and Sam Presti was forced to make a decision with those picks. Pick the players that he planned to and be ridiculed by you and a lot of other fans or pick two other players that were slipping on draft night. But Sam Presti saw a necessary need later on. Yeah, it wasn’t you thought was their need, but I’m sure Presti thought of those needs too. But I think he knew those needs would be filled by players that were already on the team. Don’t forget Reggie Jackson is supposed to start this year in place of Thabo Sefolosha. He could provide that third scorer that OKC needs. And also they have Jeremy Lamb, he was a late lottery pick in 2012. A lot of people like him om this site and he is compared to Reggie Miller. I don’t agree with the comparison but that doesn’t mean I’m right. He hasn’t quite developed yet, but this coming season could be his year that he becomes the player off the bench that everyone will rave about.

Yeah its true that Presti did not feel the immediate that you and I picked up on in this draft, but that need will be filled this coming season by a player that is already on the team. Presti’s two picks was about the future, not this coming season. And somewhere down the road, Huestis and McGary will be an important part on the Thunder.

 

 

 

 

[JoeWolf1]

I thought the McGary pick made sense, but a huge problem, and one that I’ve voiced over and over on this forum is that they have too many defensive specialists. As a result of this the ball sticks too much, especially now that Collison’s age is depleating his ability and he’s not good for as many minutes as he used to be.

They grabbed a defensive specialist / 2nd rounder in the late 1st last year, and they did the same thing this season too. I don’t dislike Huestis, or Robertson, but not really on OKC right now.

At 29 they could have drafted Kyle Anderson to help facilitate the ball in the 2nd unit, they could have nabbed Cleanthony Early who plays both sides of the ball and can create his own shot, they could have nabbed well, anyone who’s not almost the same player as the guy they drafted last year.

This draft won’t be the end of the world for OKC, they’ll win 55 games next year, but defensive guys that can’t score can’t make up half of your roster. Early seemed like the obvious fit because he does D up to a level that OKC would like, but he can also hit a 3, and put the ball on the floor.

[nill650Participant]

i actually liked the andre roberson pick, but the huestis pick was shortsighted with so much talent left on the bd.

I thought they shoul have gone jerami grant if they just wanted a perimeter defender and gotten unlimitted defensive upside and athleticism on the perimeter  instead of a player with better defensive skill but little upside.

by the way, cleanthony early is a lottery level player,and will make every team that passed on him kick themselves for years if the player they took does’nt produce.

 

 

 

[[email protected]Participant]

he has a fine looking shot and lit it up in his shooting drills. OKC is known for getting the mot out of there young players and I would not be surprised if he developed into a player of Leonard’s current skills(now, not later he will get better).

OKC already sees him as a better player than Thabo currently is, especially on the offensive side.

[JoeWolf1]

33.8% from the college line, his senior year, and 62% from the stripe… He’s better than Robertson, and from a ball handling standpoint he has the edge as well, but I think comparing him to a better Thabo is a bit of a stretch.

Thabo played sort of a point forward role overseas and was originally drafted by Chicago with hopes of playing that sort or role. He didn’t really develop that way, but he’s got a rock solid handle and over the past 3 seasons he’s shot a better percentage from the NBA line than Huestis did at the college level.

I kinda like Huestis, he’s been on my radar for 4 years because of Quincey, but he opened my eyes to his defensive pro potential playing Kansas in the NCAA tournament. I think he’ll be an NBA player, kind of a poor man’s Bruce Bowen, but comon’ he’s not better than Thabo right now, and I think they need to get rid of Robertson to keep him. There’s not room for both guys on their roster, IMO.

[JoeWolf1]

33.8% from the college line, his senior year, and 62% from the stripe… He’s better than Robertson, and from a ball handling standpoint he has the edge as well, but I think comparing him to a better Thabo is a bit of a stretch.

Thabo played sort of a point forward role overseas and was originally drafted by Chicago with hopes of playing that sort or role. He didn’t really develop that way, but he’s got a rock solid handle and over the past 3 seasons he’s shot a better percentage from the NBA line than Huestis did at the college level.

I kinda like Huestis, he’s been on my radar for 4 years because of Quincey, but he opened my eyes to his defensive pro potential playing Kansas in the NCAA tournament. I think he’ll be an NBA player, kind of a poor man’s Bruce Bowen, but comon’ he’s not better than Thabo right now, and I think they need to get rid of Robertson to keep him. There’s not room for both guys on their roster, IMO.

[[email protected]Participant]

he has a fine looking shot and lit it up in his shooting drills. OKC is known for getting the mot out of there young players and I would not be surprised if he developed into a player of Leonard’s current skills(now, not later he will get better).

OKC already sees him as a better player than Thabo currently is, especially on the offensive side.

[nill650Participant]

i actually liked the andre roberson pick, but the huestis pick was shortsighted with so much talent left on the bd.

I thought they shoul have gone jerami grant if they just wanted a perimeter defender and gotten unlimitted defensive upside and athleticism on the perimeter  instead of a player with better defensive skill but little upside.

by the way, cleanthony early is a lottery level player,and will make every team that passed on him kick themselves for years if the player they took does’nt produce.

 

 

 

[JoeWolf1]

I thought the McGary pick made sense, but a huge problem, and one that I’ve voiced over and over on this forum is that they have too many defensive specialists. As a result of this the ball sticks too much, especially now that Collison’s age is depleating his ability and he’s not good for as many minutes as he used to be.

They grabbed a defensive specialist / 2nd rounder in the late 1st last year, and they did the same thing this season too. I don’t dislike Huestis, or Robertson, but not really on OKC right now.

At 29 they could have drafted Kyle Anderson to help facilitate the ball in the 2nd unit, they could have nabbed Cleanthony Early who plays both sides of the ball and can create his own shot, they could have nabbed well, anyone who’s not almost the same player as the guy they drafted last year.

This draft won’t be the end of the world for OKC, they’ll win 55 games next year, but defensive guys that can’t score can’t make up half of your roster. Early seemed like the obvious fit because he does D up to a level that OKC would like, but he can also hit a 3, and put the ball on the floor.

[jerb2011Participant]

 OKC took McGary at 21 because they wanted him at 29 but Charlotte promised him at 24. Josh Huestis brind elite defense, good athleticism and a perimeter guy that can pass, rebound, slash, and hit an open jumpshot unlike Roberson and Thabo. It’s not the sexiest draft but OKC is definitely trying to become a defensive powerhouse in the NBA, while adding 2 high IQ players, who understand the importance of ball movement, which OKC lacks. 

The Thunder has tons of scoring ability with KD, Russ, Reggie, Lamb, PJ3, and Serge but the only players who touch the ball are KD and Russell because they iso waaaay toomuch. Jermy Lamb can hit an open jumpshot from anywhere just like PJ3 and Reggie. They now added a greatly underrated passer out of the high post with a decent face-up game an improving post game, as well as the best perimeter defender in the draft who can also swing the ball effectively and hit from anywhere on the court. Not too mention, they aquired another aggressive guard with drive and kick/drive and dish, dump off ability that attacks the paint relentlessly. Another great draft from Presti, even though it wasn’t the flashiest.

[220Participant]

Agreed I don’t believe McGary would’ve lasted until 29, I thought the Clippers would take him for sure if he was still there at 28.  I hand’t heard that the Hornets were interested, but getting Noah Vonleh earlier I imagined they would’ve skipped McGary.

I also agree that the Thunder badly need to work on their offensive flow and get out of playing one on one so much.

 

[220Participant]

Agreed I don’t believe McGary would’ve lasted until 29, I thought the Clippers would take him for sure if he was still there at 28.  I hand’t heard that the Hornets were interested, but getting Noah Vonleh earlier I imagined they would’ve skipped McGary.

I also agree that the Thunder badly need to work on their offensive flow and get out of playing one on one so much.

 

[jerb2011Participant]

 OKC took McGary at 21 because they wanted him at 29 but Charlotte promised him at 24. Josh Huestis brind elite defense, good athleticism and a perimeter guy that can pass, rebound, slash, and hit an open jumpshot unlike Roberson and Thabo. It’s not the sexiest draft but OKC is definitely trying to become a defensive powerhouse in the NBA, while adding 2 high IQ players, who understand the importance of ball movement, which OKC lacks. 

The Thunder has tons of scoring ability with KD, Russ, Reggie, Lamb, PJ3, and Serge but the only players who touch the ball are KD and Russell because they iso waaaay toomuch. Jermy Lamb can hit an open jumpshot from anywhere just like PJ3 and Reggie. They now added a greatly underrated passer out of the high post with a decent face-up game an improving post game, as well as the best perimeter defender in the draft who can also swing the ball effectively and hit from anywhere on the court. Not too mention, they aquired another aggressive guard with drive and kick/drive and dish, dump off ability that attacks the paint relentlessly. Another great draft from Presti, even though it wasn’t the flashiest.

[NtsapParticipant]

I hope they trade Perkins plus those two and picks for a wing that can score and just throw Adams out there. What Philly is doing I’m sure they could pry Young away for some young players and Perkins expiring. 

[NtsapParticipant]

I hope they trade Perkins plus those two and picks for a wing that can score and just throw Adams out there. What Philly is doing I’m sure they could pry Young away for some young players and Perkins expiring. 

[BennyWestsideParticipant]

 Until Presti proves otherwise, I wil continue to trust his decisions on draft day. He has really only messed up one pick in more than 6 years, and was apparently instrumental in the draft decisions of the Spurs before he moved on to OKC. 

However, in saying that I just dont get the Huestis pick. The modern NBA relaity is that a wing who cannot handle the ball or shoot threes will not get any minutes in the playoffs, and if he does he will put his team at a huge disadvantage with modern denfenses knowing to sag off them. We just saw that in OKC with Sefolosha and Roberson. Why then, with players like GR3, Early and Anderson on the board, did the Thunder take Huestis. Admittedly, if he can become a credible corner three guy he would be the best fit of the bunch because of his elite defense, but Early and GR3 can be that this season, and are both solid on D. And Anderson would have given the Thunder another ball handler and someone to develop.

I did like the McGary pick as a replacement for Collison who will probably not be great for much longer, and I am not sure he would have been there at 29. But, they could have take Hairston at 21 (best player in the draft for the team outside the lottery) and waited to see who fell to 29. We might have gotten McGary, but if not guys like Early etc. would still have been there.

[BennyWestsideParticipant]

 Until Presti proves otherwise, I wil continue to trust his decisions on draft day. He has really only messed up one pick in more than 6 years, and was apparently instrumental in the draft decisions of the Spurs before he moved on to OKC. 

However, in saying that I just dont get the Huestis pick. The modern NBA relaity is that a wing who cannot handle the ball or shoot threes will not get any minutes in the playoffs, and if he does he will put his team at a huge disadvantage with modern denfenses knowing to sag off them. We just saw that in OKC with Sefolosha and Roberson. Why then, with players like GR3, Early and Anderson on the board, did the Thunder take Huestis. Admittedly, if he can become a credible corner three guy he would be the best fit of the bunch because of his elite defense, but Early and GR3 can be that this season, and are both solid on D. And Anderson would have given the Thunder another ball handler and someone to develop.

I did like the McGary pick as a replacement for Collison who will probably not be great for much longer, and I am not sure he would have been there at 29. But, they could have take Hairston at 21 (best player in the draft for the team outside the lottery) and waited to see who fell to 29. We might have gotten McGary, but if not guys like Early etc. would still have been there.

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